Grab-bucket



F. H. WILLIAMS.

GRAB BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED Auw?. 1916.

F. H. WILLIAMS.

' GRAB BUCKET., APPucATIoN FILED AuG.l7, 191s.'

Patented Ma5f3,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ,ZN VEN 2:05.

`GRAB BUCKET.

APPLxcATIoN FILED AuG.r7,1916.

Patented May 3, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- [NVE/vink Unitas stares Arent reins.

FRANK H. WILLIAMS, 0F BUFFALO, NW YORK.

GRAB-BUCKET.

Application :tiled August 17, V19,16.

which is used in the handling of sand, gravel or ore.

It is well known to those skilled in the art, that the buckets of the prior art are frequently constructed with two long links which extend from the bucket segments up to the upper sheaves. This construction requires that a good deal of head room be provided for the bucket and such a bucket has small or insufficient power when closing.

In my invention I have sought to overcome these disadvantages by providing a bucket so designed and constructed as to do away with the long links abovevmentioned and to make a bucket so compact in its construction that comparatively little head room is required, and also one in which the closing power is greater than in the type of bucket referred to.

Another object has been to provide a bucket in which simple and effective means is provided for keeping the lower sheave casing in parallel relation throughout its motion.

Moreover, in my device, l have provided novel and effective means for keeping the bucket segments substantially equidistant from the center plane of the bucket, which plane is the vertical plane passing through the center of the girders and with which thecontacting surfaces of the lbucket segments, when closed, are substantially coincident.

My bucket is designed with a number of, girders across the top, which, when the bucket segments are fully opened, form, with the intermediate parts a solid, non-pivotal Contact, so that a very strong and durable. construction is provided, which will resist the shock resulting from the dropping of the bucket on to any surface supporting the material being handled. These girders also transmit the pressure due to the pull of, the ropes to 'points near the outer extremities of the segments and exert this pressure in substantially a vertiesl direction.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May s, 192i.

Serial No. 115,123.

Furthermore, all the sheaves and other working parts of my bucket are so inclosed and positioned that none of the material being handled can get into the bearings and cause undue wear. Y

A further object has been to provide a novel arrangement of the sheaves so that an equalizingreaving of the closing rope is had.

The above objects and advantages have been accomplished 'by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of my bucket. f

Fig. 2 is an endelevation thereof.

Fig. '3 is a sectional elevation taken on line` 3 3 of Fig. 1. y y

Fig. 4 is an' enlarged, plan view of the upper portion of the bucket'with the bucket segments removed.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, plan view of the bucket segments and the uncovered, lower sheave casing, and is viewed from line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view, showing one corner of one of the bucket segments and is taken on line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, perspective view of one of the hingelinks of my bucket.

Fig.V 8 is a fragmentary, sectional view showing the stops on one of the girders, andv 1s taken on lineS-S of Fig. l.

Fig. V9 is a side elevation of the bucket shown in Fig. 1 in its open position and shows in the dotted lines the position of the parts in its partly opened position.

Fig. l() is a fragmentary, side elevation showing the position occupied'by the stops when the bucket parts are'in a.l certain vdegreeof opening.

F ig. 11A is a side elevation of a bucket having a modified form of equalizing means.

Fig. 12V is a fragmentary, sectionalvview through oneof the trunnion pins for the bucket segments and is taken on line 12412/ of Fig. 11.

Referring now to the drawings andmore particularly toFigs. 1 to 10, inclusive, 20 and 21 are the bucket segments which are of the usual plate construction and are provided at their upper adjacent edges with trunnion plates 22 and 23, respectively. 24. is the lower sheavecasing which isvdisposed betweenthe trunnion plates. This sheave casingis provided at eachend and on opposits. sides withluga' (Fig. 1.2). These lugs are provided with central apertures 26.

in which are disposed trunnion pins 27 and 27a. The trunnion plates 22 and 23 are provided with suitable bearings arranged to engage with the trunnion pins 27 and 27a, respectively, whereby the bucket segments are pivotally connected with the lower sheave casing 24. This construction thus provides pivotal connections between the bucket segments which throughout the travel of the said segments remain at a conk stant distance from each other. The trunnion plates 22 each have an offset or arm 28 which extends inwardly and downwardly at a certain angle, and the trunnion plates 23 are each also provided with an arm 29 which extends upwardly and inwardly at a certain angle. A pivot pin 67 is provided on the arm 28 and a pivot pin 68 is provided on the arm'29. An equalizer link 30 is ar- 4 ranged on each side'efeach of the arms 28 and 29 and pivotally attached to the pins 67 and 68, thereby connecting` thesearms and the plates of whichr they form a part. The angle or the arms 28 and 29 is such that, together with the connecting, equalizing links 30, an equal rotation is given to each of the bucket segments and an equal velocity ot rotation to both segments infreverse directions, This I have found, is only true when the parts have certain relation as that set forth in the following formula,

Vwhich I have evolved:-

:.7934 D.- CzR Sine 44o (or greater). There Rzthe radius of the arms 28 and 29. Dzone-half the distance between the axes of the pivot pins 27 and 27a. Cz'the distance between the vertical plane passing vthrough the axis or the trunnion pin 27a and the axis of the pin 68, and also represents the disvtance between the horizontal plane passing through the trunnion pin 27 and the axis'oi the pivot pin 67, when the bucket segments are in their normally-closed positions. This construction thus provides a simple, cheap and effective equalizing connection for' keeping the lower sheave block in parallel relation throughout its travel.

Above the bucket and at each side is provided an arc-shaped head girder 3l. Each of these girders is preferably formed of a lia-t web 32 having secured to its outer face and 'at the upper and lower edges thereof an angle iron 33. The girders are arranged each at one side of thebucket and between their lower edges are secured 'the hinge members 34. vWhen the hinge member is riveted: or otherwise secured to the girder,

a stop 35 is also secured, preferably by the same means, in the corner of each end of the angle irons 33, which stops will be here? inafter more fully described. Eachhinge member 34 has at each end an outwardly extending bearing lug 36 and passing through these lugs is a hinge pin 37.

arranged bearing lugs 42 and 43, thus providing a space 44 therebetween. The bearing lugs 36 of the hinge member 34 are ar- 38 are the hinge links, each of which is pivvided at its upper end with two oppositely ranged in the space 44 of the hinge links' l and between the bearingl lugs 42 and k43. The hinge pin 37 of each hinge member passes through the bearing lugs 42 and 43 i the hinge link and is preferably secured theretoiby a cotter pin or other suitable means. A stop shoulder. 45 Ais providedon l each hinge link 42 and these stop shoulders are so arranged that they will contact with the outer reinforced edges or the bucketsegments when'the bucket is in its open position, Vthereby giving a solid, positive stop for theV rotative action of the segments. Projecting from the bearing'lug 43 of each of the links is an inwardly extending stop lug 46, which is arranged, when -the, bucket is being opened or closed to' move between the stops 35 secured to the head girders and thereby limit the oscillation, of the linksv andl keep the lower sheave casing`24 moving in a substantially straight line; lhen the stop lugs 46 are in the middle or neu-v tral position shown in Fig. 10 the side of the hinge links will contact withV the stop 47, provided on the hinge bearing 4l and will thus keep the lower sheave casing moving in a substantially straight line while passing through the position shown in this iigure and in which position the stop lugs 46 are out oit contact withthe lugs 35. y

The sheave casing' 24 isprovided with, two casing sheave pins 48, which supportY casing sheaves 49 and `50. Y The sheave pins 48 are so arranged that the planesl through which they casing sheaves 49 land 50 rotate Ymaken small acute angle form just above described.

and a girder sheave 53 is arranged therebetween -and mounted upon a pin 54. A pin 55 passes through the sheave supports and provides an anchor for the end of the hoisting rope 56. pin 57 is provided near the top of thek sheave supports and serves as an anchor for the hold rope 58, and also as a support for the closing rope guide 59. 60 are braces; which extend prefei'ably from the point of junction of the sheave supports with the girders to the center of the hinge members 34. The hold rope 58 is secured at its lower end to the pin 57 and the hoisting rope 56 is passed through the guide 59, around the casing. sheave 50 up and over the girder sheave 53 arranged between. the sheave supports, down around the casing sheave 49 and up to the pin 55 where it is anchored. This construct-.ion provides a symmetrical arrangement and pull onthe ropes.

'ln the modified form of bucket shown in Figs. ll and l2, the bucket segments 6l' .and 62 have secured at their upper adjacent edges the trunnion plates 63 and 64. Thesel trunnion plates are rotatably secured to the pivotal pins 27 and 27a carried by the lower sheave casing 24 in the same/manner as the The plates 63 and 64 have their adjacent surfaces provided with gear segments 65 and 66, lrespectively.

24 in parallel relation and thus perform the same function as the V.links 30 in the form above described.

When the bucket shownin Figs-l to 10, inclusive, is closed asshown'in Fig. l, it will be seen that the stop lugs 46 'of the the hinge pins 37, these pins 27 and 27u, re-` spectively, and 37 will be at their minimum distante from each other. When -in tliisposition the stop lugs 46 will be in their neuytral position (Fig. l0). When inV this position the stops 47 carried by the hinge bearing 4l will contact with the hinge links 88 and keep the lower sheave bloc-k 24 fin alinement. As the trunnion pins 27 and 27 a lcontinue Yto 'move downwardly until they occupy the saine horizontal plane as the pins 40 ati the lower ends ofthe hinge links 38, the pins 40 will beat their maximum distance, in which position thestop lugs 46 of thelhinge links will bein contact Another These gear segments are in mesh with each other andpw'hen the bucket Vis-opened they keep the lower sheave casing with the-lower stops'35 ofthe head girder (as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9) During the balance of travel of the trunnion pins 27 Y and 27a the pins 40 will be drawn inwardly to ments and parts connected therewith will be kept substantially equidistant from the center of the head girder throughout'they movement of opening orrclosing the bucketand thus provide a substantially straight line motion for the lower sheave casing 24. This hinge link is alsov used in the modified bucket shown Iin Figs. 11' and 12 and its operation vneed not, therefore,magain be described. f Y

The lower sheave casing 24 in the` buckets shown yin Figs. l to 10, inclusive, is held non-rotative by means-of the links 30. In

the form shown in Fig. 11 this functionis performed by the gear segments 65 and 66.H f l obviously Some modifications of the ,de tails herein shown and `described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the exactv embodiment herein Y shown and described. v

Having thus described my "invention,

what I claim is:

l. A grab bucketcoinprising bucket segments, the bucket segments being pivotally mounted at points which remain equidis-jtant from reachfother throughout their travel, a 'pluralityof girders disposed'across the topof the segments and extending nea'i` to the outside edges thereof, hinge linksl connecting the outer ends of the -girders with-the outer edges of the segments, said .iio

links having their' lower, ends pivotally united to said segments, stops carried by the girders, and stops-carried 'by the bucketsegments, both said stops` being engageablev l by said hinge links whereby the lowerv ends of opposite hinge links will remainsubstantially equidistantfrom the vertical cen-Y tralI plane of thegbucket throughout their travel. I

2. A grab; bucket comprising bucket vSeg-` ments, the bucketsegments beingipivotally mounted atpoints which. `remain equidistant from each other throughout their travel, a? plurality of girders disposed across -the topV of the segments and extending near to the outside edgesthereof, hinge links connecting Y the Outer ends of the girders with the outer edges of the segments, said' links lhaving theirA lowerendsvpivotallyV united to said segments. fixed stops engageable by said" linke, when the bucket assumes its maximum upper and lower positions, and a rotative stop for engaging the links when the bucket segmentsare in their intermediate positions, whereby the segments andthe corresponding co-acting parts are kept substantially equidistant from the vertical center plane of the bucket throughout their travel.

3. A grab bucket comprising bucket segments, the segments being pivotally mounted at points which remain equidistant from each other throughout their travel, means connecting the segments at their pivotal poi-nts so that there is given to each of the segments equal rotation and to both of them an equal velocity of rotation in reverse directions, a plurality of girders disposed across the top of the segments and extending near to the outside edges thereof, and meanslocated at the outer edges of the girders and bucket segments for keeping the bucket segments and the corresponding, coacting parts equ'idistant from the vertical center plane of the bucket throughout their travel.

4. In a grab bucket, the combination with two bucketsegments, of a member arranged between segments, trunnion pins carried by the member and passing through the segments, the ltrunnion pinsbeing arranged at a fixed distance from each other,mechanical means for positively closing the bucket segments about their pivotal points, and equalizer links pivotally connecting the segments and so positioned that there is given to each of the segments a substantially equal rotation and to both of them a substantially equal velocity of rotation in reverse directions.' n t 5. A grab bucket comprising pivotally mounted bucket segments, a girder disposed across the top of each side of said segments and extending near to the outside edges thereof, a hinge member extending between and secured to each of the two opposite girders, a pair of hinge links pivotally secured to each of said -hinge members, said links' having vtheir lower ends pivotally Vunited to said segments, and stops engagel able by said hinge links, whereby the bucket segments and the corresponding co-acting parts are kept substantially equidistant from the verticalV center' plane of the bucket throughout their travel. 4

6. A grab bucket comprising bucket segments, a member arranged between said segments, trunnion pins for said segments carried by said member and arranged at a constant distance from `each other, equalizing links pivotally connecting said segments, a girdler disposed across the top of each side of said segments and extending near to the outside edges thereof, a hinge member ex- Y tending between and secured to the ends of the two opposite girders, a pair of hinge Y es links pivotally secu-red to each' or said hinge members, said links having their lower ends pivotally united to said segments, vand stops edges thereof, a hinge member secured to each of the girders at each end thereof, a pair of hinge links pivotally secured to each of said hinge members, said links having their lower ends pivotally united to said segments, each of said links being `provided at its upper end with a stop lug, and stops secured to said girders, said stops being engageable by said stop lugs, whereby the bucket segments and the corresponding, rco"- acting parts are kept substantially equidistant from the vertical center plane of the bucket throughout their travel.

8. A grab bucket comprising pivotally mounted bucket segments, a plurality of girders disposed across the top of said segmentsl and extending near to the outside edges thereof, a hinge member secured to said girders at each end of said bucket, a pair of hinge links pivotally secured to each of said hinge members-said links having their lower ends pivotally united to said segments, each of said links being provided at the upper end with a stop shoulder, said shoulder being engageable by the outer edges of said segments when fully open, whereby a solid, positive stop is provided for the rotative action of the segments.v

9. A grab bucket comprising pivotally mounted bucket segments, a plurality of girders disposed across the top of said segments and extending near to the outside edges thereof, a hinge member secured to said girders at each end of said bucket, a pair of hinge links pivotally secured to each of said hinge members, said links having their lower ends pivotally united to said segments, each of said links being provided at its upper end with a stop lug and a stop shoulder, stops secured to said girders, said stops being engageable by the said stop lugs and said shoulders being engageable with the outer edges of said segments when fully open, whereby a solid, positive stop is provided for the rotative action of the segments.

lO. A grab bucket comprising pivotally mounted bucket segments, a girder disposed across the top of each side of said segments and extending near to the outside edges thereof, a hinge member extending across and secured to the ends of the two opposite of said links being provided at its upper end with a stop lug, stops secured to said girders and engageable by said stop lugs, a hinge bearing at each of the top outer corners of each of said segments, the lower end of each of said hinge links being pivotally united to one of said bearings, each of said bearings having a stop engageable with one of said links, whereby the bucket segments and the corresponding, co-acting parts are kept substantially equidistant from the vertical center plane of the bucket throughout their travel.

l1. In a grab bucket, the combination with two bucket segments and a lower sheave casing secured to the bucket, of a girder secured across the top of each side of the segments, a girder sheave rotatably mounted in a plane parallel with the transverse vertical center plane of the bucket, and two casingsheaves rotatably mounted within the casing in planes which make small acute angles with the transverse center plane of the bucket, each of the casing sheaves being mounted upon a separate pin disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal vertical center plane of the bucket.

12. In a grab bucket, the combination with two bucket segments and a lower sheave casing secured to the bucket, of a girder secured across the top of each sideof the segments, a girder sheave rotatably mounted in a plane parallel with the transverse vertical center plane of the bucket, two casing sheaves rotatably mounted within the casing in planes, which make small acute angles with the transverse center plane of the bucket, each of the casing sheaves being mounted upona separate pin disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal vertical center plane of the bucket, and a hoisting rope anchored to the girder, then passing downwardly around one of the casing sheaves, then upwardly around the girder sheave, then downwardly around the other of the casing sheaves and then upwardly through the center of the bucket, whereby a symmetrical arrangement and pull ofV the hoisting rope is provided.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my nameV in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. f

FRANK H. WILLIAMS. YWitnesses:

J. WM. ELLIS, WALTER H. KELLEY. 

